Combined door and partition



June 16, 1931. R. E. MOORE COMBINED DOOR AND PARTITION 5 Sheets-Sheet nl Filed Oct. 27, 1950 T f o xlllln..

I N VEN TOR oer'daare) A TTORNEY.

June 16, 1931. R. E. MOORE COMBINED DOOR AND PARTITION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/ .RM x mw m E O I. W all 1 w ww Ivz June 16, 1931. R. E. MOORE COMBINED DOOR AND PARTITION Filed OCT.. 27, 1930 3 Sheets-jshee 3 A TTORNEY.

Patented June 16, 1931 ROBERT E. MOORE, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI COMBINED DOO AND PARTITION Application filed October 27,1930. Serial No. 491,579.

This invention relates to a combined door and partition adapted to be used in connec, tion with freight cars, motor trucks,k and the like, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of such character which may be used interchangeably as an inner door or as a partition.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a ombined door and partition of the character aforesaid which includes novel means for securing the same in the position` in which it is desired to use the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined door and partition ofthe character aforesaid which includes novel means for supporting the same in a manner to provide for the ready movement thereof when converting it from one of its uses tothe other.

A further obj ect lof the invention is to provide a combined door and partition of the character. aforesaid which may be adjusted to different width door'openings or cars.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in View, the invention consists Iof the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more particularly described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein isshown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be under- Stood that the description and drawings"are to be taken as illustrative and that the invention is intended to be limited` only by the scope dof the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several\views:

Figu`re 1 is a sectional elevation showing the use of the device as a partition for a freight car used in hauling grain.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan of the ydevice used as an inner door of a freight car. r Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan of the device used as a partition.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken at a point indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken/on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional plantaken at a point indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

l Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken at a point indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on t-he line 8 8 of F ifrure 1 showing 60 one of the elevating devices for the door.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation taken at a point indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10is a view ysimilar to Figure 65 showing the parts of the elevating device as they appear when the door is latched.

Figure 1l is an elevation looking towards the inner face'of the housing forming a part of the elevating device. Figure 12 is a sectional elevation of the sliding member forming a part of the elevating device.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the latch members carriedby the door. Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the device particularly adapted for use in connection with freight requiring ventilation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the 30 numeral l indicates `the side walls of a freight car, between which is extended my improved combination door and partition indicated generally by the numeral 2. The combined door and partition 2 includes a 85 pair of end` sections 3 and 4 which are connected respectively with a pair of central sections 5 and 6 by means of a pair of anged bars 7. The central sections 5 and 6 are of corrugated construction and are disposed in overlapping relation in a manner to permit lrelative sliding movement therebetween.

Formed integrally with the upper and lower ledges of the sectlon 5 are channel forming members 8 within which are slidably dis- 95 posed connecting members 9 of the same contour as the members 8 which are iixedly secured to the section 6 at the upper and lower edges-of the latter., The section 5 is formed with apair of spaced, longitudinally extending slots through which extend adjusting bolts 11 carried by the section 6. The bolts 11 are provided with suitable wing nuts 12 by means of which the sections 5 and 6 may be secured against relative movement. By loosening the wing nuts 12, the sections 5 and 6 may be moved relative to each other in accordance with the width of the space which it is desired to span `with the combined door and partition 2.

' Secured to each of the sections 3 and 4` and projecting therefrom are a pair of latch members 13 of angle construction. Preferably one of the latch members 13 is disposed in, spaced relation to each outer corner of each of the sections 3 and 4. When the element 2 is used as a partition, the latch members 13 are adapted to be fdropped into notches 14 formed in the upper faces of bars means of lock bars 17 which are slidably mounted in channel formingmembers V18 secured to the inner faces of the sections 3 and 4. When the lock bars'17 are in locking position, the outer ends thereof are disposed beneath thebars 15 when the element 2 is used as a partition, and beneath the tongues 16 when the element 2 is used 'as an inner door. `The lock bars 17 are maintained in locking position by means of spring pressed plungers 19 which extend into abutment with offsets 2O on the inner ends of the bars 17, the offsets 20 projecting through slots 21 in the channel forming members 18. The plungers 19. also are used as stops to prevent the outer ends of the lock bars 17 from projecting beyond the door when the latter is being moved from one position to another. When using theQplungers 19 for such purpose, the plungers are elevated to permit the lockbars 17 to slide inwardly, after which the plungers 19 are released to engage the offset portions 20 ofthe bars on the opposite faces of such offsets. Only two lock bars 17 and spring actuated plungers 19 are necessary, and preferably they will be associated with the4 latch members 13 adjacent the upper corners of the combined door. and partition.

Secured to each of the sections 3 and 4 is an elevating device indicated generally by the numeral 22. Each elevating device 22 consists of a substantially semi-cylindrical housing 23 which is provided with laterally projecting ears 24 by means of which the housing is secured to the door section with which the same is associated. Slidably mounted within the housing 23 is an elongated supporting member 25 having a roller 26 rotatably mounted at the lower end thereof. The support 25 is of skeleton formation including a pair of. side walls'27. In-

termediatethe ends of the member 25 the latter is provided with a transverse partition 28 extending between the side walls 27. Spaced from the lower ends thereof, the side walls 27 are connected at their forward and rearward edges. by relatively short vertical walls 29. Pivotally mounted between the side walls 27 is an actuating member 30, one end of which projects from the support 25 above the housing 23, and the other end of which extends downwardly between the side walls 27 and is formed at its lower end with a hook 31 adapted to engage the lower .face of a lug 32 formed o n the inner face of the housing 23. Disposed within the housing 23 and iixedly secured thereto is a rigid block 33 which extends above the vertical walls 29. Interposed between the block 33 and partition 28 is a compression spring 34.

In the use of the elevating device 23 to raise the door section to which it is connected, the support 25 is pressed downwardly with the foot simultaneously with the exertion of an upward force on the door section by grasping a handle 35 secured to the outer face thereof. The latch member 3() is substantially in the form of a bell crank and is so weighted that the lower end thereof normally will be disposed in' vertical alignment with the pivotal connection of the latch member. Upon the pressing of the support 25 downwardly, the hook 31 rides along the inclined the lug 32, and uponclearmg such inclinedv face assumes the position illustrated in Figure 8. In this position the roller 26 is seated on the floor 37, while the lower edge of the section 3 is disposed in spaced relation to the floor. When it is desired to release the elevating device, a downward force is exerted on ythe projecting end of the latch member 30 by means of which the hook 31 is disengaged from the lug 32. The action of the spring 34 then forces the artition 28 into engagement with the lug 32,1n which position the door section will be seated on the oor as illustrated in Figure 10.

It is to be understood that before the elevating device 22 may be operated for elevating the door, the lock bars 17 must be moved inwardly and maintained in unlocked position by means of the plungers 19.- With `the`rollers 26 seated o n the floor, and with depth of the notches 14 in order that the inner face 36 of iis' latch members 13 may be lifted a distance sullicient to clear the bars 15 or tongues 16.

Preferably each of the sections 3 and 4 will be provided with a plate 38, the central portion of which is maintained'in spaced relation to the outer face of the section to which it is connected. Extending through the plate 38 and further extending through the section to which the plate is connected is an opening 39 which may be used as a discharge opening for grain, or for ventilation as desired. ASlidably disposed between the plate 38 and the section to which the same is connected is a closure member` 40 which is provided at its upper edge with a flange 41 for engagement with a hook 42 secured to the door section above the plate 38. The mounting for the hook 42 further provides a stop to prevent the complete removal of the closure member 40. v

The embodimentillustrated in Figure 14 is of the same construction of that above C described, except that the combined door and partition 43 illustrated in Figure 14 is not provided with the apertured plates 38 and closure members 40 above described, and is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 44 which are arranged in spaced relationand a car, means for latching the combined door`- and partition in position with respect to the car, locking means for the latching means,

vand means for elevating the combined door and partition tounlatch the same when said locking-means is` unlocked, said ele-` vated means including a housing secured to the combined,V door and partition, asliding support carried by the housing, a roller mounted on the lower end of the support, and releasable means carried by the housing and support for latching the support in a position to project the roller below the combined door and partition.

2. In a combined door and partit-ion for a car, means for latching the combined door and partition in position with respect to the car, locking means for the latching means, and means for elevating the combined door and partition 'to unlatch the same when said locking means is unlocked,

said elevating means including a housing l secured to the combined door and partition,

a sliding support carried by the housing, a roller mounted on the lower end of the support, and releasable means carried by the housing and support for latching the support in a position to project the roller below the combined door and partition, said latching means including coacting latch members carried by the combined door and partition and car, the latch member carried by the combined door and partition being vertically movable with respect to the latchn member carried vby the car. f

3. In a combined door and partition for a car, means for latching the combined door? and partition in position with respect to the car, locking means 'for the latching means, and means for elevating the combined door and partition to unlatch the same when said locking means is unlocked, said latching means including coacting latch members' carried by the combined door and partition and the car, the latch v .member carried by the combined door and partition being vertically movable with respect to the latch member carried by the car, said locking means including a bar out- A'wardly'slidable'to project the same beneath the latch member carried by the car.4

4. In a combined door and partitiomforvv i a car, means for latching the combined door and partition in position with respect to the car,`1ocking means for the latching means,

and means for elevating the combined door and partition to unlatch the same when said locking means is unlocked, said latching means including coacting latch members carried by thel combined door and partition i and the car, the latch member carried by the combined door and partition being vertically movable vwith respect to the latch member carried by the car, said locking-means including a bar outwardlyslidable to project the same beneath the latch member carried by the car, said locking means further including a spring actuated. plunger for abutment with said bar to prevent inward move- -ment of the latter.

5. In a combined door and partition for y a car, means for latching the combined door and partition in position with respect to the car, locking means for the latching means, and means for elevatmg'the combined door and partition to unlatch the same when said locking means is unlocked, said combined doorv and partition including a pair of relatively slidable, overlapping, corrugated sections. n U v In testimony whereof, I aiix my s1gnature hereto. y f f ROBERT E. MOORE.y 

